“Has a nation changed its gods, which are not gods? But My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit…. For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water” (Jer 2:11,13).
In this analogy there is a fountain of living waters and a broken cistern. A cistern is meant to store a limited amount of water for consumption, and the water it stores is not pure and fresh like the waters of a fresh-flowing fountain. God is the fountain of water that gives spiritual life; Israel rejected Him. They turned to false gods of their own making that could not satisfy spiritually. Their idolatry was as worthless as broken cisterns that could hold no water.
Today, when men turn to man-made religion and philosophy, they forsake the word of God, the fountain of living waters, for broken cisterns that can hold no water.
Without careful inspection, a broken cistern may look sound. And just so, the broken cisterns of the religious teachings of men are deceptive.
Today over the internet you can listen to a man from far away or read from influential “evangelical” preachers who may preach truth on some moral issues but who speak “the language of Ashdod” (Neh 13:24), instead of the language and teaching of the Bible, about fundamental subjects like grace, faith, and works. They speak unsound words about God’s plan of salvation, leading the blind to remain lost.
And sadly, brethren too are listening to and reading from them. The teachers do not use “the pattern of sound words” (2 Tim 1:13) of the apostles. With unsound words they promote unsound concepts and ideas contrary to the truth of the gospel and “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple” (Rom 16:18). Such men who are false teachers should not be given audience; they should be rejected (v.17).
When brethren read and listen to denominational and community church teachers, they have turned from the true fountain to broken cisterns which can hold no water. These teachings are broken cisterns that are the same old religious errors repackaged.
So when you hear brethren in some places say we can agree to disagree on religious matters, or God’s grace will cover religious error and its practice, or God clothing and covering us over with Christ’s personal righteousness, be alarmed. But it’s happening. I’m afraid these brethren are reading from broken cisterns because they’re not reading it from the Bible.
Brethren, our faith needs to begin and end with what God teaches in His word. Be careful who you read and listen to, as the church in Corinth was warned: “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!” (2 Cor 11:3-4)
– Larry Jones